If Children Are Acquainted With Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw's Life, It Would Inspire Them To Join Army & Serve The Nation: Madras High Court

"If our children are acquainted with the life of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, it would certainly inspire them to join the army and serve the nation."

The Bench of Justice G. R. Swaminathan was hearing pleas by the petitioners seeking the release of their respective vehicles in their favor alleging that to date, the vehicle in question has not been produced before the jurisdictional court.

At the outset, the Court cited Supreme Court's decision in Sunderbhai Ambalal Desai and Others V. State of Gujarat (2002) 10 SCC 283 and observed that whatever be the situation, it is of no use to keep such seized vehicles at the police stations for a long period.

[NOTE: In similar circumstances, the Madras High Court (apart from other HCs of the Country) has been directing the release of the seized vehicle on remittance of a certain sum of money as non-refundable payment.

Importantly, Justice G. R. Swaminathan has been directing costs to be paid either to the credit of the mineral foundation trust (central government entity) or a governmental authority.]

In this backdrop, the Court remarked,

"(On) 14^th February, the nation remembered the martyrs who laid down their lives for the motherland at Pulwama. To add solemnity to the occasion, 'Sam Manekshaw's Beloved Armed Forces' authored by Shri. N. Vijayaraghavan, advocate was released."

Significantly, the Court observed,

"Major General R.Karthikeyan who saw action in all the four wars while speaking on the occasion lamented that though Officers Training Academy is located in Chennai, hardly one percent of the officers are from the State of Tamil Nadu."

The Court further continued,

"Awareness should be spread among the school going students in this regard. Motivation can come only by reading the lives of iconic figures. If our children are acquainted with the life of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, it would certainly inspire them to join the army and serve the nation."

The counsel for the petitioner came forward to remit a sum of Rs.20,000/- in favor of Kalaimagal Publications.

And so, the Publisher, Kalaimagal Publication was requested by the Court to distribute the corresponding number of copies among the schools and institutions that may be suggested by the learned author himself.

Thus, the Court directed the release of the vehicles subject to the condition that petitioner pays a sum of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand only) in favour of the Kalaimagal Publications.

"After completion of the aforesaid formalities, the respondents shall release the petition mentioned vehicle forthwith without any delay," concluded the Court.

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